You're Only Safe If...

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Requirements

• Age 7+
• Players 8-24
• Time 5-10 min rounds
• Location Forest
• Energy High (running)
• Materials NONE (except perhaps the list of prompts below)
• Lead by Pathfinder
• Guides 1

Story

Do you know lots of nature knowledge? Are you willing to be silly and get dirty? Is so, great - you're more likely to stay safe from the predators in this chaotic game of tag!

Action Call

Can you listen closely and follow directions quickly? Can you identify plants, trees, and tracks quickly?

Game

Safety

• Scout playing area for hazards: tripping objects, stinging insects, trash, and much more.

Mission

In a wooded area, identify a general game boundary ("that tree over there to that gully"). Scout the area for wasps nests, deadfall trees, ground nests, etc.

Get a volunteer to be the "predator" for a game of tag (if you're working with a large group, consider starting with two predators). Everyone else is "prey," and the predator's goal is to tag them. When a predator tags a prey, the prey immediately becomes a predator and begins hunting other prey.

But, there's a twist: every few seconds, the Pathfinder will 1) yell "Freeze" (everyone must freeze where they are), 2) announce a "safety" prompt, such as "You're only safe if you're touching an oak tree," and 3) count down from three, four, or five (depending on how difficult it is to achieve the prompt) to zero.

As soon as the Pathfinder begins counting down, prey may unfreeze and run around seeking safety. Predators remain frozen until the Pathfinder says "zero," at which time they may unfreeze, run around, and tag prey who have NOT found safety (for instance, prey who are NOT touching an oak tree).

A few seconds later, the Pathfinder repeats the above process with a new safety prompt. This repeats, and play continues, until the last person is tagged. Then a new round can begin.

Here is a list of possible prompts. You’re only safe if you are...

• Holding an acorn
• Holding a hickory nut
• Touching a (specific type of tree)
• Holding a (specific type of tree) leaf
• Holding a (specific type of tree fruit)
• Touching a tree with rough/smooth bark
• Holding a (color) leaf
• Touching a tree that makes simple/compound leaves
• Holding a simple/compound leaf
• Touching a tree that has opposite/alternate branching
• Holding a leaf from a tree that has opposite/alternate branching
• Touching an animal track (human tracks count!)
• Touching a thorn
• Holding a rock that’s bigger than your fist
• Holding a stick that splits into multiple branches at least twice
• Standing on one leg
• Both of your hands are ON the ground and both of your feet are OFF the ground
• Your head is touching the ground
• Touching one other person
• Touching two other people
• Your eyes are closed
• Not laughing
• Plugging your ears with your fingers
• Spinning in circles
• No part of your body is touching the ground
• Touching your nose with your finger
• Covering both of your elbows with your hands
• Touching your nose with your elbow
• Touching your knee with your foot
• Bouncing up and down
• Bouncing up and down and spinning in circles
• Have dirt smeared somewhere on your face
• Pretending to be a wild animal
• Touching a plant that you know is edible
• Touching a fungus
• Touching a flower

Modify

To make it harder for prey, you can change the rules about freezing: when the Pathfinder starts counting down, predators can unfreeze and run after prey; they just can't TAG them until the Pathfinder says "zero!"